Hey Dear Frends,
I know that some of you have been bombarded with fundraising posts from me on Facebook about the show I’m Music Directing with Ben Dicke in the Fall. A lot of you have been curious about what the show is actually ABOUT, seeing as how it’s fairly new and all that.
Below is a Synopsis of the show and a little bit about Ben since some of you may not be familiar with him. I had the sincere pleasure of working with him as the guitarist for The Wedding Singer at the Aurora Fox last year and to be involved in his Direction/Vision of the show Xanadu at the Aurora Fox this Spring. Please forward this link to friends, co-workers, artists, etc. that you think would be interested in financially supporting this project. It only takes $1. We will also be doing a short concert fundraiser at Cap City Bar at 13th and Bannock in Denver on Monday, April 23rd.
“BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON tells the story of America’s first political maverick. A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards all in the name of these United States–who cares if he didn’t have permission?
An exhilarating and white-knuckled look at one of our nation’s founding rock stars, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON recreates and reinvents the life of “Old Hickory,” from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as our seventh Commander-in-Chief. It also asks the question, is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he’s really, really hot?”
The show is set up in three parts-the first being a nearly melodramatic look at 19th Century frontier life and Jackson’s part in it. His family dead from cholera and Indian attacks, Jackson decides to take on a larger role in the greater world around him. He meets his wife Rachel and soon becomes the War hero who would begin to sculpt the outlook of a nation.
Part two takes the audience on the road to the White House, replete with a back-door scandal that keeps our hero from his first stab at the Oval Office. Jackson, undaunted, returns to defeat the “elitist political machine” that controls Washington to become the first President not directly connected to any of the founding fathers.
In the third and final part of the show, we find AJ surrounded by his “Populist” followers who, though initially filled with deep admiration for his democratic style, are soon resentful of their involvement in so much decision-making. Jackson is overwhelmed by the apathy of the American populous and sets the US on a course for “Manifest Destiny.”
Though the characters and structure of the show are all-at-once shocking, endearing, horrifying and hysterical, it’s the searing and often moving emo-rock score that truly gives this show it’s voice. An amazing show straight from Broadway, this Rocky Mountain Regional Premiere is sure to take Denver by storm.
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON is slated to run at the Aurora Fox Studio Space from September 7-October 28. The kickstarter for the project ends May 1.
Join me in making history.
Ben Dicke started playing around in theatre in grade school at his Church. If he would have made the basketball team in 7th grade, he probably would not have made theatre his life’s passion. His first directorial gig was his high school’s production of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. Since then he has helmed dozens of productions from middle school musicals to Shakespeare, from large-scale union projects, to intimate environmental works. Some of his favorite directorial and co-directorial projects include I, OEDIPUS, XANADU, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, BYE BYE BIRDIE, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS…, THE BALD SOPRANO, HAMLET, GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE, and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. His contacts both regionally and nationally not only include Broadway and Off-Broadway but also television and film as well as staff and talent at some of the best Regional Houses in the country.